Family Reunification in Portugal: Bringing Spouse & Kids

There are two ways to bring your spouse and children to Portugal: apply together with your own visa from the start, or establish yourself first and bring them later through family reunification (the D6 route). Both work — which one makes sense depends on timing, documentation readiness, and how settled you already are.

Applying together vs. applying later

Apply together, from the start, if:

You're all ready to apply at the same time, with documents in hand
Your visa category (D7, D8, D2, etc.) allows dependents to apply as part of the same process
You want to avoid a second, separate application cycle

Apply later via family reunification (D6), if:

You're moving first to get settled — housing, work, schooling research — before bringing the rest of the family
Your spouse or children's documents (apostilles, translations) aren't ready yet and you don't want to delay your own move
You've already relocated and your family situation changed afterward (marriage, birth, adoption)

Family reunification requires the sponsoring family member to already hold valid residency in Portugal — it's specifically the "bring them after I'm established" route. If you're both applying from scratch at the same time, you typically don't need this separate process; you apply as a family unit under whichever primary visa fits (D7 →, D8 →).

Who qualifies as family for reunification

Generally:

Spouse or legally recognized partner
Dependent children (minors, and in some cases adult children still financially dependent or studying)
In some circumstances, dependent parents or other relatives — this is assessed case by case and is less straightforward, so confirm with a lawyer if this applies to you

Required documents

Marriage certificate, apostilled and, if not in Portuguese, officially translated
Birth certificates for children, apostilled and translated
Proof of the sponsoring family member's valid Portuguese residency
Proof of accommodation suitable for the family
Proof of financial means to support the additional family members
Passport photos and valid passports for each applicant
Criminal record certificates where applicable (usually required for adult applicants)

Apostille and translation requirements are the most common source of delay in family reunification cases — start gathering marriage and birth certificates as early as possible, since some countries' civil registries take weeks to issue certified copies.

Timelines

Family reunification processing times vary and have historically run longer than initial visa applications due to backlogs — realistically budget for several months from submission to decision, and confirm current expected processing times directly with AIMA, since these fluctuate. Applying jointly from the outset, when possible, generally avoids this second waiting period entirely.

Process overview (reunification route)

Sponsor (the family member already resident in Portugal) applies for family reunification on behalf of dependents
Gather and apostille all civil documents for each family member being brought over
Submit the application — this is generally done through AIMA once the sponsor is established, though some steps may route through the consulate depending on where family members are located
Wait for processing
Family members receive residence permits tied to the sponsor's status, once approved
Renew alongside the sponsor's own permit

FAQ

Can I bring my parents to Portugal through family reunification? It's possible in some circumstances (typically if they're dependent on you), but it's assessed case by case and is more complex than spouse/children cases — check with a lawyer for your specific situation.

Does it matter if I got married after moving to Portugal? No — family reunification covers spouses regardless of when the marriage happened, as long as you can document it properly.

How long does family reunification take? It varies and has been known to take longer than initial visa processing — confirm current estimated timelines with AIMA before planning around a specific date.

Do unmarried partners qualify? Legally recognized partnerships (de facto unions, civil partnerships) can qualify depending on how they're documented and recognized — this varies by situation, so verify with a lawyer or the consulate.

Is it cheaper to apply together instead of using family reunification later? Not necessarily cheaper in fees, but applying together avoids a second full application process and its associated wait time — worth weighing against the convenience of moving solo first.

What if my children were born after I already got residency in Portugal? You'd typically use family reunification (or a similar process) to formalize their residency status, even though they may already be with you in Portugal.